Safe dikes in the Netherlands: VolkerWessels Telecom en Landustrie Sneek launch new website for the DMC system

VolkerWessels Telecom en Landustrie Sneek are contributing to innovation in water management. In cooperation with Deltares, TNO and Visser & Smit Hanab they developed the Dike Monitoring and Conditioning System (DMC-system). Advanced sensor technology is applied to safe guard the dike’s condition and make improvements if necessary. All information on the system is now gathered at www.dmc-system.com

Flood prevention

When you think about the Netherlands, you think of water, polders and dikes. Approximately 17,000 kilometers of dike protect the Dutch from high water levels. These dikes need to be safe and stay safe. The Dike Monitoring and Conditioning System (DMC) prevents dikes from collapsing. Thanks to the DMC traditional dike reinforcement is rarely needed. The system offers perspective on a safer country and can result in significant cost savings. The development of the DMC fits perfectly in the High Water Protection Programme, in which the Dutch Government and the Dutch Water Authority intensively combine their activities to prevent the Netherlands from flooding.

How it works

The DMC monitors the pressure in the dike and timely pumps away excess water. In that way the DMC prevents dikes to collapse from macro instability, micro instability or piping. Traditionally dikes are thoroughly monitored once every five years. That’s a big difference compared to the DMC system, with which the in build sensors continuously monitor the condition of the dike. A safe data connection makes it possible for the dike manager to look into the information about the dike’s stability anytime and everywhere. The DMC requires little maintenance and management and basically works autonomous. Over the last few years the technology has been tested and proven at various locations.